New Year, a Little Late

A new year suggests new beginnings to many of us, and this year, despite our country's economic woes and our own family's geographic woes (husband working in one state, myself remaining behind in another state to help daughter adjust to university and change on top of change, son now graduated and in-between states as he applies to graduate schools), the new year is still freshly minted, shiny, and promising. After the holidays, my husband returned to Louisiana, my daughter returned to the University of Georgia, and my son remains here for a short while longer with me. We just give thanks that a tough year is over and a new year offers new beginnings.

Here in Metro-Atlanta, we ended the year with snow on Christmas Day, and we have begun the new year--the second week into the new year--with more snow, ice, and freezing rain. The city is practically in lock-down due to the weather, but at least I'm not alone, and my husband left behind lots of firewood for our fine fireplace insert. There's nothing that will warm the heart more on a cold, gray day than some radiant heat--and perhaps a couple of cups of hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps.

Yesterday, my son and I took a long walk in the neighborhood. The neighborhood roads and sidewalks were covered with ice-crusted snow and slick in places, but there were a few folks out enjoying the winter. Some folks had managed to build snowmen before the snow became too icy, and other folks had roped off steep streets where kids and their parents were sledding down the smooth, icy surfaces. In one yard, two men had built a fire and were inviting passersby and neighborhood friends over for cookies and hot chocolate. The walk reminded me of how much I love this town just east of Atlanta. It's been designated the most walkable town in Georgia. Although it's also one of the most densely populated towns in the state, it's also one of the most green urban areas I've ever seen. People care about the environment, community gardens, dog parks, recycling and neighborhood block parties. It's very hard for me to leave. But I've lived in many places, and I know that I will create a space for me and my family to live and to thrive.

Neighbors provide a warm spot from the cold

Neighborhood street roped off for sledding

Another street in the neighborhood full of winter activity

Snowman in our neighborhood

It's a new year. I gotta believe.

More Snow Photos

Around 6:30 this evening, I convinced my daughter to help me build a snowman. Temperatures weren't high enough to keep the snow from melting, but our yard had a good inch of snow left in it. So we bundled up and went outside in the fading light. My daughter stuck with the project through getting the head on what now was a snow woman; then she went inside to complete some homework while I put the finishing touches on our creation. Our snow woman may be only a fraction of herself by tomorrow afternoon. According to weather.com, the temperature here is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, so unless those temperatures drop, our snow woman may even lose some of herself tonight. However, it was fun to play in the snow. We get so little of it here.

UPDATE: Monday, March 2nd, 19 hours later

Snow in Atlanta

Snow started falling in this town just east of Atlanta at around noon today. Four hours later, it's still falling. Our daughter is ecstatic. Our son in Austin, Texas, is jealous. We lived in northern Minnesota for 2 1/2 years, and he still misses the place. Here are a few photos we took while out on a walk around 1:30 this afternoon.

Snow in Metro-Atlanta

The temperature is 27 degrees this afternoon, following yesterday's snow fall. Icy snow still remains on the lawns of the neighborhood though the streets are clear. Yesterday Tom, Mary-Margaret and I walked downtown, taking photos of the snow and of snowmen created by neighborhood children. Grass and other leafy debris added texture to the snow sculptures. We had maybe an inch of snow, with the brown remainders of summer's lawn grass sticking up through the white stuff. With no usable garage here at our new home in Georgia, my art car is exposed to the elements. The Barbies on the roof of the car seemed to be flailing rather desperately in the snow.